April6, 2009

Washington, DC – House Armed Services Committee
Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) released the following
statement concerning the defense budget proposals announced
today by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates:

“Secretary Gates has set out major changes to
the defense budget based on changed assumptions about the
wars our military must be prepared to fight. This is a
good faith effort, and I appreciate the hard work and
thoughtful consideration Secretary Gates and his staff put
into these proposals.

“However, the buck stops with Congress, which
has the critical Constitutional responsibility to decide
whether to support these proposals. In the weeks ahead,
my colleagues and I will carefully consider these proposals
and look forward to working with Secretary Gates and Admiral
Mullen as we prepare the Fiscal Year 2010 defense
authorization act.”